Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T16:31:01.402Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The vein of Labbe masquerading as an epidural abscess

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2007

M Kraus ,
I Shelef ,
A Niv  and
D M Kaplan
M Kraus*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
I Shelef
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
A Niv
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
D M Kaplan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr M Kraus, Department of Otolaryngology, Soroka University Medical Center, P.O.Box 151, Beer-Sheva 84101, Israel. Fax: 972-8-6499981 E-mail: kraysm@bezeqint.net
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The occipitotemporal vein (OTV) courses over the temporal lobe, connecting the superficial middle cerebral vein and the transverse sinus. This vein is rarely identifiable on computerized tomography (CT) scans and a large amount of contrast is needed to identify such a relatively small vessel. We present a 12-month-old male with acute coalescent mastoiditis and a subperiosteal abscess. An epidural abscess was suspected on pre-operative CT scan. No abscess was found on surgery. Based on the surgical finding, we determined that this misdiagnosis was due to a vascular variant, the occipitotemporal vein (vein of Labbe) that masqueraded as an abcess on the CT scan. Recognition of the vein of Labbe on CT scan is therefore essential for the appropriate management of otological and neurotological disease.

Keywords

MastoiditisChildTomography, X-ray Computed
Type
Online Only Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 121 , Issue 8 , August 2007 , E12
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Gower, D, Mcguirt, WF. Intracranial complications of acute and chronic infectious ear disease: a problem still with us. Laryngoscope 1983;93:1028–33CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Fliss, DM, Leiberman, A, Dagan, R. Medical sequelae and complications of acute otitis media. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1994;13:34–40CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Harley, EH, Sdralis, T, Berecowitz, RG. Acute mastoiditis in children: A 12-year retrospective study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;117:435–6Google Scholar
4Graham, CD, Goldsmith, MM III. Infections of the ear. In Lee, KJ, ed. Essential Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Norwalk: Appleton & Lange, 1995Google Scholar
5Sener, RN. The occipitotemporal vein: a cadaver, MRI and CT study. Neuroradiology 1994;36:117–20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6Williams, PL, Warwick, R, Dyson, M, Bannister, LH (1989) Gray's anatomy, 37th edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1989;798Google Scholar